These words are very upsetting to me because they came from a member of
the planning and zoning board during a dialogue about a lot line
adjustment. This adjustment was a transaction between two private
parties, having no bearing on the town - the transaction served merely
to transfer a small portion of property from one owner to another. Our
planning and zoning board, however, decided they wanted an easement on
this property for the town. When the aforementioned board member was
asked why the board was getting involved in a private matter, I was
told, "Because we can."
This same attitude is being applied by the Waitsfield Planning
Commission in dealing with the Hartshorn subdivision. The planning
commission seems to believe that they can impose their intentions upon
the taxpayers of Waitsfield. The legal wrangling now transpiring should
be considered criminal. If the permits and paperwork involved in the
subdivision are in order, then what is the problem? Legal expenses on
the taxpayers have to be in the tens of thousands of dollars, with
still no resolution.

What is the commission's intent in meddling with this subdivision? Do
they want an easement through this property for future roads? What
price is the town offering Mr. Hartshorn for the easement? Is the
commission implying that there will be no subdivision permit granted
without the easements? This seems to be extortion by members of an
appointed commission.

The ongoing saga between the town and the Hartshorns is better than
most soap operas; the problem is that an elected official and taxpayer
of our town is being targeted. Paul Hartshorn is thus being forced to
spend many years of hard-earned money on legal fees to fight for his
own property. The commission is dictating to Mr. Hartshorn, a private
property owner, what they want to do with his property (which is not
owned by the town at all). The easement requested coming from a
separate parcel of land should have no bearing on issuing a permit for
his subdivision, unless the Waitsfield Planning Commission is trying to
use their power to get what they want.

The planning commission has manipulated the system to fulfill the goals
of a few appointed members. This is unethical and could be construed as
being illegal. Before more lawyers become involved, and more taxpayer
dollars are spent, a neutral group should be summoned to investigate
these activities.